Foursquare Church Leader Jack Hayford Dies at 88

Pastor Jack Hayford on June 25, 2018. Courtesy of The Foursquare Church

Pastor Jack Hayford, former president of the Foursquare Church and pastor of The Church on The Way in Van Nuys, California, died last week at the age of 88.

Hayford “died peacefully in his sleep” on the early morning of Jan. 8, “having eaten dinner with his wife, Valarie, and having spoken to one of his grandkids the evening before,” according to a statement on his website.

An influential leader in the charismatic evangelical Foursquare Church, Hayford leaves behind a legacy rooted in both spiritual and academic disciplines.

“Pastor Jack lived a life devoted to Jesus, one which he never wavered in or strayed from,” current Foursquare President Randy Remington said in a Jan. 8 statement. “Thousands of pastors found encouragement, inspiration and lifelong ministry principles through his pastor’s schools and conferences. His books, songs and teachings will continue to inspire and mentor generations to come.”

Ted Vail, vice president of global operations at the church, credits Hayford with spreading the gospel and the Foursquare movement across the globe.

“It never surprises me that wherever I travel globally, I encounter people whose lives have been positively affected by Pastor Jack and his ministry: his teachings, his books and his personal life,” Vail wrote in a Jan. 8 statement. “… Without him, we would not be where we are today, and we are deeply grateful.”

In addition to pastoring, Hayford founded The King’s University in Southlake, Texas, in 1997, led the Foursquare Church as president from 2004 to 2008, authored more than 50 books, and composed hundreds of hymns and worship songs used in churches worldwide.

Hayford was born in Los Angeles on June 25, 1934, with a life-threatening illness. Family and friends prayed for his recovery, which materialized, according to his website.

Years later, he experienced another miraculous healing from polio, which, along with the previous miracles, his website states, sparked “a steadfast belief in the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Hayford received a bachelor’s degree from the Foursquare Church’s bible college, Life Pacific University, in 1956, and joined the university as a faculty member and later a dean while he worked on a second bachelor’s degree at Azusa Pacific University, where he graduated in 1970.

In 1969, Hayford became a senior pastor of The Church on The Way—then known as First Church of Van Nuys—where he served for 30 years.

During his time at the church, the congregation grew from 12 to 12,000 members, becoming the largest in the Foursquare system.

After stepping down from the church as senior pastor in 1999, Hayford guided seminary at The King’s University in Southlake, Texas, which he founded two years prior.

Robert Morris, chancellor of The King’s University, likened Hayford’s role in the Foursquare Church to that of the apostle Paul in the early church.

“Paul was a man of the Spirit and a man who knew the power of God,” Morris said in a Jan. 8 statement. “At the same time, … He was a brilliant man who could communicate to different people and different churches in many ways … A man who was an effective teacher of the Scriptures. A man who was of the Spirit, and a man of great intellect. A man who saw the power of God work within him. A man like Pastor Jack.”

Hayford is survived by his wife, four children, and 11 grandchildren.

A public viewing will be held Feb. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. The Church On The Way in Van Nuys will host a memorial service Feb. 18 at 1 p.m.